torque OPEL GT-R 1973 Owner's Guide

FRONT END ALIGNMENT 3C-23
ing geometry, the following checks and inspections
must be made to insure correctness of alignment
equipment readings and alignment adjustments.
1. The front tires should have approximately the
same wear and all tires must be inflated to specified
pressures (see Wheel and Tire Specifications
- Sec-
tion 3G).
2. Check front wheel bearings for looseness and ad-
just if necessary (see Front Suspension Adjustments
- Section 3A).
3. Check for run-out of wheels and tires, (see Section
3G).
4. Check wheels and tires for balance and correct if
out-of-balance (See Section 3G).
5. Check for looseness at ball joints and tie
rdd ends;
if found excessive, it must be
corxcted before align-
ment readings will have any value.
Figure SC-Z Spring Compressor J-2 1689 Installed
6. Check shock absorber action and correct if neces-
sary. Consideration must be given the optional
equipment on the car, undercoating, dirt, etc.
7. It is advisable to check the condition and accuracy
of any equipment being used to check front end
alignment and to make certain that instructions of
the manufacturer are thoroughly understood.
ADJUSTING CASTER (GT)
4. Remove upper control arm shaft,
5. Remove upper control arm from shock absorber
support, being careful not to lose toothed washers.
6. Adjust caster by installing selective toothed wash-
ers on both sides of control arm shaft, between con-
trol arm and shock absorber support. Never use
CAUTION: Front suspension fasteners are impor- more than one washer at any one location. The total
tant attaching parts in that they could
affectthickness, front and rear washer, must equal .48”.
the performance of uital components and sys-
tems, and/or could result in major repair expense.
There are only two possible caster changes that can
be made.
They must be replaced with one of the same
part
number or with an equiualentpart ifreplacement
becomes necessary. Do not use a replacement part
Of lesser quality or substitute design. Torque
values must be used as specified during reassem-
bly to mure proper retention of these parts.
7. Using a drift to align holes, replace control arm
shaft in the direction as shown in Figure
3C-3.
Torque hex nut to 33 lb.ft. Make certain that crown
of both plate washers shows outward.
To change caster, three washers are available
- one
with a
.12” thickness, one that is .36” thick, and one
.24” thick. Toincrease caster place one of the thin
washers at the front of the control arm shaft and one
of the thick washers at the rear.
To decrease caster
place one thick washer at the front of the control
arm shaft and one thin washer at the rear.
1. Position jack below front suspension cross mem-
ber and raise front end of car. 8. Remove spring compressor, and install front
wheel and torque wheel nuts to 72 ft. Ibs.
9. Recheck caster.ADJUSTING CASTER (OPEL
1900. MANTA)
2. Place jack stands below front frame side members
and remove front wheel on side which caster is to be
adjusted. 1. Jack up vehicle and remove front wheel on the side
on which caster is to be adjusted.
3. Install front spring compressor J-21689 and com-
press spring. See Figure
3C-2.
2. Support vehicle below both lower control arms.
See Figure
3C-4.
3. Unscrew hex nut from upper control arm shaft
and pull out shaft.
4. Adjust caster by replacing washers (A) (front) and

3C-24 1973 OPEL SERVICE MANUAL
NOTE:
FRONT OF CAR
4Figure
3C-3 Upper Control Arm Shaft and Bushingsx.3
Figure
3C-4 Supporting Vehicle at Both Lower
Control Arms(B) (rear) between upper control arm and shock ab-
sorber support. See Figure
3C-5.5. One
.24” thick washer each is installed in produc-
tion on each car side. Consequently, only two adjust-
ments are possible by adding washers of different
thickness.
6. One
.12” in front and one .36” in the rear (caster
increase of 1 degree) or one
.36” in front and one. 12”
in the rear (caster decrease of 1 degree). Never addFRONT OF CAR
3G5
Figure
3C-5 Caster Adjustment Washer Location -Opel 1900 - Manta
several washers in one place. The washers B installed
in production have a larger outer diameter than the
washer A. For service, the Parts and Accessories
Department supplies only larger washers with an
outer diameter of 1.57”.
7. Insert control arm shaft from front towards the
rear into upper control arm and shock absorber
SUP-port. Observe that the crown of both plate washers
shows inwards. See Figure
3C-5.8. Torque hex nut of control arm shaft to 40 ft.lbs.
Always use new self-locking nut.
9. Torque wheel nuts to 75
ft.lbs.10. Recheck caster setting.

FRONT END ALIGNMENT 3C-25
Figure 3C-6 Adjusting Toe-In (GT)ADJUSTING CAMBER
Camber is adjusted by turning the upper ball jointflange 180 degrees. This means that only two possi-
ble camber adjustments can be made. At the factory
camber is set at the smallest possible positive camber
setting for GT and smallest possible negative camber
for Opel
1900 - Manta. Rotating the flange will make
camber more positive on GT and more negative on
Opel
1900 - Manta.
1. Raise front end of car using wood block on jack
to prevent damage to front cross member.
2. Support car below lower control arm and remove
front wheel on side to be adjusted.
3. Remove ball joint from upper control arm and
front steering knuckle.
4. Lift upper control arm and turn the ball joint
flange through 180 degrees.
5. First tighten both ball joint attaching bolts on
upper control arm and then the ball stud castle nut.
Torque to 29 ft. lbs. on GT and 44
ft.lbs. on Opel
1900 - Manta. Install new cotter pin.
6. Install front wheel and torque wheel nuts to 72
lb.ft. on GT and 75 Ib.ft. on Opel 1900 - Manta.
7. Recheck camber.
ADJUSTING TOE-IN
(GT)Toe-in is adjusted by rotating the tie rod sleeves.
Refer to Figure
3C-6.1. Recheck caster and camber before proceeding
with toe-in adjustment. If correct, adjust toe-in.2. Set wormshaft and ball nut to steering gear high
point by turning steering wheel half way from one
stop to the other, noticing the following:
(a) With the steering wheel hub button removed, the
“marking” on the steering shaft end should be in a
horizontal position.
(b) The steering wheel spokes should also be in a
centered position.
3. Remove wire clamps on left and right tie rod and
push back bellows.
4. Loosen clamp bolts and tie rods. See Figure
3C-4.5. The toe-in should be
l/32” - l/8”.When adjusting toe-in, never grip tie rod on inner
ball stud joint. To avoid ball stud resting against
inside of hole in tie rod outer end, center outer end
of each tie rod to the ball stud.
6. Pull bellows over tie rods and attach with wire
clamps. The bellows must not be twisted and wire
ends must show towards steering gear adjusting
screw opening.
7. Torque clamp bolts to 12
Ib.ft.8. After toe-in adjustment, turn steering wheel sev-
eral times completely towards the left and right to
determine whether bellows are properly attached to
the tie rods and steering gear housing.
ADJUSTING TOE-IN (OPEL 1900. MANTA)
The adjustment of the toe-in has always to be carried
out on both tie rods.

3C-26 1973 OPEL SERVICE MANUAL
1. Loosen lock nut of left and right tie rod and
slacken back nut.
2. Remove hose clamp for rubber bellows attach-
ment from respective axial joint and adjust toe-in by
turning axial joint. When doing this, observe that the
rubber bellows, having a tight seat on thejoint, is not
twisted. If necessary, lubricate seat of bellows and
hold back bellows when turning. See Figure 3C-7.Figure
3C-7 Adjusting Toe-In Opel 1900 Manta
3. Toe-in should be l/S”
- 3/16”.
4. Torque lock nut of left and right tie rod to 47
ft.lbs.5. Attach respective rubber bellows with hose clamp,
making sure that clamp bolt points towards the
front. The rubber bellows must not be twisted, i.e.,
SpecificationsFRONT END ALIGNMENTthe individual grooves of bellows must be in vertical
position.
6. After adjustment, turn steering several times to the
left and right to determine if a proper attachment of
both rubber bellows to the steering gear housing is
warranted.
CHECKING THEORETICAL KING PIN
INCLINATION
When checking theoretical king pin inclination, car
must be on a level surface, both transversely and fore
and aft, must have trim heights within limits, and
must be at curb load.
With camber known to be within specitied limits,
theoretical king pin inclination should check to 8.5
degrees for Opel 1900
- Manta, and 6 degrees for GT.
If camber is incorrect beyond limits of adjustment
and theoretical king pin inclination is correct, or
nearly so, a bent steering knuckle is indicated.
There is no adjustment for theoretical king pin incli-
nation as this factor depends on the accuracy of the
fronts suspension parts. Distorted parts should be re-
placed with new parts.
The practice of heating and bending front suspension
parts to correct errors must be avoided as this may
produce soft spots in the metal in which fatigue and
breakage may develop in service.
MODELCASTER
’CAMBER ’TOE-INOUTER WHEEL
MIN.. MAX.WHEN INNER
WHEEL AT 20
’1900‘3
l/2-61/2-1?1/2I/% - 3/1619 l/4GT3+1
1+1/2l/32 - l/818 l/2* Permissable deviation from left to right wheel
- maximum 1”.

3D. 281973 OPEL SERVICE MANUALr
LFLEXIBLE
COUPLING
SHAFT.
NEEDLE BEARING
L
LPINION BUSHING
O-RING SEAL
Figure
3D-2 Steering Gear Assembly - End View
3D-2RACK GUIDE
rBUSHINGFigure
3D-3 Steering Gear Assembly Front View
until a resistance is felt. By threading in adjusting
screw when steering gear is set to highpoint, the
MAJOR REPAIRsintered bronze she0
l’s pushed against the rack SO
that the rack is blocked.
REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION OF STEERING
3. Back off adjusting screw
l/8 to l/4 of a turn.GEAR ASSEMBLY AND TIE RODS
4. Tighten lock nut to a torque of 43 lbs.ft.
Removal. GT5. Fill area under pinion shaft rubber boot with steer-
ing gear lubricant and slide boot into position.1. Remove rubber knee protector pad.

3D- 301973 OPEL SERVICE MANUALFigure 3D-8 - Removing Clamp Bolt3. Remove cotter pin located on left and right tie rod
end and unscrew nut.
4. Using Tool J-21687, press tie rod ends out of
steering arms.
5. Disconnect steering gear housing from front sus-
pension cross member and remove steering gear
together with tie rods.
Installation . GTCAUTION: Fasteners are important attaching parts in
that they could affect the performance of vital com-
ponents and systems, and/or could result in major
repair expense. They must be replaced
with one of
the same part number or with an equivalent part if
replacement becomes necessary. Do not
use a re-
placement part of lesser quality or substitute design.
Torque values must be used as specified during reas-
sembly to assure proper retention of these parts.
1. Position steering gear on front suspension cross
member and torque attaching bolts to 18
lb.ft.2. Position tie rod ball studs in steering arms; install
nuts and torque to 29 lb.ft. Lock in position with new
cotter pins.
3. Fully turn steering wheel so that flat or cutout
surface on lower portion of steering shaft is parallel
to flexible coupling bolt hole.
4. Install the lower end of steering shaft to the flexi-
ble coupling and adjust dimension between steering
wheel hub and direction signal switch housing cover
to
l/8 and 3/32 inch. Maintain adjustment by tight-
ening flexible coupling bolt and nut to 15 lb.ft. Lock
the bolt and nut in position with lock-plate tabs.5. Reinstall stop bolt into steering column.
6. Full turn steering wheel both right and left. If any
resistance is noticeable, it will be necessary to remove
the sleering column and correct the cause.
D. Installation (Opel 1900. Manta)CAUTION: Fasteners are important attachingparts in
that they could affect the performance of vital com-
ponents and systems, and/or could result in
maJbrrepair expense. They must be replaced with one of
the same part number or with an equivalent part if
replacement becomes necessary. Do not use a re-
placement part oflesser
quaky or substitute design.
Torque values must be used as specified during reas-
sembly to assure proper retention of these parts.
1. Prior to installation, set steering gear to high
point. The steering wheel spokes point downwards in
an oblique angle. The elongated cutout of the lower
steering mast must coincide with the clamp bolt hole
of the pinion flange.
2. Position steering gear on front suspension cross
member and torque attaching bolts to 29 lb.ft.
3. Position tie rod studs in steering arms. Install nuts
and torque to 29
Ib.ft. Lock in position with new
cotter pin.
4. Install the lower end of the steering shaft to flexi-
ble coupling and torque clamp bolt to 22
lb.ft.5. Attach guard plate to both side members and
lower deflector panel.
DISASSEMBLY AND ASSEMBLY OF
STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY WITH TIE RODS
Disassembly - GT1. Carefully clamp gear assembly in soft jaw vise and
slip clamps and rubber bellows off gear housing to
expose area where ball joint screws into rack.
2. Bend up round edges of lockplates from tie rod
ball studs and disconnect tie rod ball studs from rack.
See Figure
3D-9). It is important that rack be held
secure with open end wrench to prevent damage to
rack teeth.
3. Loosen adjusting screw lock nut; remove adjusting
screw from steering gear housing, and take out thrust
spring and sintered bronze shell. See Figure
3D-11.4. Rotate gear assembly in vise so that pinion shaft
portion of assembly is held by vise, and remove pin-
ion nut, flat washer, and special washer.

3D- 321973 OPEL SERVICE MANUAL
Figure 3D-13 Steering Gear Housing With Rack
Check to insure that three air channels of sintered
metal bushing (See Figure 3D-17) are not obstructed
by lubricant. If air channels are blocked, a vacuum
condition in the bellows may result during operation
of the gear assembly. Under such circumstances, the
bellows will be drawn inward and jam into the rack
teeth.
3. Reassemble pinion shaft into gear assembly so that
spline in pinion shaft meshes with twelfth tooth of
the rack. Use pinion mounting sleeve J-21712 during
installation of pinion shaft to avoid damage to “0”
ring in pinion bushing. When reassembling pinion
shaft into gear housing, be sure that pinion is so
positioned that bolt hole in pinion shaft flexible cou-
pling is on top and parallel to the rack. See Figure3D- 14..~.. ~. ..~.IN FLEXIBLE
COUPLING PARALLEL ORRIZONTAL WITH R
._..-_ - -._..-
Figure 3D-14 Installing Pinion Shaft
4. Reassemble special washer, flat washer, and new
pinion nut onto pinion shaft. Torque pinion nut to 11
Ib.ft. Do not exceed torque due to possibility ofjam-
ming gear.
5. Place sintered bronze shell into steering gear hous-
ing and fill adjusting hole with Calcium Soap No. 2.
6. Reassemble thrust spring, adjuster screw and lock-
nut on gear assembly.
Final adjustment of adjuster screw is performed after
gear assembly and tie rods are installed in car. See
Maintenance and Adjustments in this section for ad-
justment of steering gear.
7. Place rubber bellows, clamps, and new lock plates
on ball stud portion of tie rods; and screw ball studs
into rack while holding bent tab of lock plate against
flat
ton rack. Torque ball studs 43 lb.ft. See Figure
3D-9. It is important that rack be held secure with
open end wrench to prevent damage to rack teeth.
8. Bend round edges of lock plate over flat on ball
stud to lock ball stud in position. See Figure
3D-15.Figure 3D-15 Bending Lock Plate Over Ball Stud
9. Properly position rubber bellows and clamps over
tie rod and gear housing and adjust clamps so that
ends are pointing same direction as adjusting screw.
Check that bellows is not twisted and will compress
and expand properly.
Reassembly (Opel 1900 - Manta)1. Clamp steering gear housing in a soft jaw vise and
reassemble new “0” rings onto retainer and pinion
shaft bushing. Also, install thrust washer onto pinion
bushing.
Coat all moving parts during reassembly with suita-

STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY30.33ble steering gear lubricant. Fill long end of housingbly. Under such circumstances, the bellows will be
with approximately 1 3/4 oz. steering gear lubricant.
drawn inward and jam into the rack teeth.
3. Reassemble pinion shaft into gear assembly so that
spline in pinion shaft meshes with twelfth tooth of
the rack. Use pinion mounting sleeve J-21712 during
installation of pinion shaft to avoid damage to “0”
ring in pinion bushing. When reassembling pinion
shaft into gear housing, be sure that pinion is so
positioned that bolt hole in pinion shaft flexible cou-
pling is on top and parallel to the rack. See Figure
3D-16.2. Insert long toothless end of rack into short end of
housing until rack ends (A) protrude equally out of
both ends of housing. See Figure
3D-16.Figure 3D-16
- Steering Gear Housing With Rack
Check to insure that three air channels of sintered
metal bushing are not obstructed by lubricant. If air
channels are blocked, a vacuum condition in the bel-
lows may result during operation of the gear assem-
SPECIFICATIONS
Tightening Specifications
PartLocation
BoltBolt
Nut
NutNut
Bolt
Bolt
NutNut
Nut4. Reassemble special washer, flat washer, and new
pinion nut onto pinion shaft. Torque pinion nut to 11
lb.ft. Do not exceed torque due to possibility of jam-
ming gear.
5. Place sintered bronze shell into steering gear hous-
ing and till adjusting hole with suitable steering gear
lubricant.
6. Reassemble thrust spring, adjuster screw and lock-
nut on gear assembly. Torque locknut to 43
Ib.ft.7. Screw ball stud of the axial joint together with stop
plate onto both ends of the rack. Torque to 47
lb.ft.Counterhold rack with open-end wrench.
8. Slide rubber bellows onto axial joint and steering
gear housing. Attach rubber bellows with loose
clamp and clamping wire. Check that rubber bellows
is not twisted.
FlexibleCouplingClamp(GT)
Flexible Coupling Clamp (1 900
- Manta) _....,,,,,,....._...,,,,Tie
RodBall-Connects toRack (GT). . . . . .
BallStud - Axial Joint toRack (1900 - Manta)
Tie
RodLockNut(1900-Manta). . . . . .
Steering Gear Housing to Front Suspension
Crossmember (GT)
,,....._.._.................................................Steering Gear Housing to Front Suspension
Crossmember (1 900
- Manta) _...........................,...........Adjusting Screw Lock Nut.
.._.._....................................Pinion
. . . .._............_.......,,,,,.........................................,,,,..........,,Tie Rod to Steering Arm. .
.._.....................................
Torque
Lb.Ft..-
;“2
43
4749
18
29
43
:i

3E- 38 ,1973 OPEL SERVICE MANUAL
ponents and systems, and/or could result in major
repair expense. They must be replaced with one or
the same part number or with
an equivalent part if
replacement becomes necessary. Do not use a
re-
placement part of lesser quality or substitute design.
Torque
values must be used as specified during reas-
sembly to assure proper retention of these parts.On installation, make sure steering wheel spokes
point downwards and steering gear is in high point.
1. Carefully insert steering mast into universal joint
flange.
2. Loosely attach slide-off base attaching nuts at un-
derside of instrument panel.
3. Attach steering mast jacket at front of dash, using
a notched hex nut.
4. Torque nuts at slide-off base to II
lb.ft.5. Tighten screw at steering mast clamp to 22
lb.ft.6. Reconnect wires to directional signal switch and
ignition switch.
7. Reconnect battery.
REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION OF
STEERING WHEELThis procedure may be performed with the steering
column assembly either removed or installed in the
car.
Removal
1. Disconnect battery.
2. Pry off horn cap and remove wires from cap. See
Figure
3E-3.3. Bend lockplate tabs down and take off steering
shaft nut and lockplate.
4. Install steering wheel remover J-21686 as shown
in Figure
3E-9 and pull off steering wheel.
Installation1. Before installing steering wheel, lubricate return
pin and sliding area on directional signal switch re-
turn cams and horn contact ring.
2. Make sure that clamp bolt in steering shaft flange
is on top.
3. Make sure notch on steering shaft face is in hori-
zontal position.Figure
3E-9 Removing Steering Wheel
4. With the steering wheel centered, place the steer-
ing wheel onto the steering shaft.
5. Install steering wheel lockplate and nut. Torque to
11
lb.ft.
CAUTION:
This steering wheeI to steering shaft fas-
tener is an important attaching part in that it could
affect the
performance of vital components and sys-
tems, and/or could result in major repair expense. It
must be repked
with one of the same part number
or with an equivalent part if replacement becomes
necessary. Do not use a replacement part of lesser
quality or substitute design. Torque
values must be
used as specified during reassembly to assure proper
retention of this part.6. Bend lockplate tabs up, connect horn cap wires
and replace cable and cap.
7. Reconnect battery.
REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT OF HORN
CONTACT RING
1. Remove steering wheel.
2. Cut off defective contact ring at wire.
3. Strip wire approximately
l/8”.4. Install new part and solder connection with resin
core solder.
5. Lubricate contact ring with lubriplate, or equiva-
lent.
6. Reinstall steering wheel.

3E- 40 1973 OPEL SERVICE MANUAL
on steering and ignition lock bracket using a new
tear-off bolt (hexagon head tears
ofD.
3. Disconnect slide-off base, install upper half of sig-
nal switch housing cover, and loosely reattach
slide-
off base.
4. Attach steering mast jacket at front of dash panel.
See Figure
3E-7.
5. Torque slide-off base attaching nuts to 11 lb.ft.
6. Install lower half of signal switch housing cover
and connect signal switch, as well as steering ignition
lock wire set.
7. Install steering wheel and torque nut to 11
Ib.ft.
Always use new lock plate.
DISASSEMBLY AND REASSEMBLY OF STEERING
AND IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER AND ELECTRICAL SWITCH FROM MAST JACKET
ASSEMBLY
Disassembly. GT
Disconnect the battery before proceeding.
1. Remove steering wheel.
2. Turn ignition switch to ON position.
3. Insert a suitable rod into stop pin hole on side of
steering and ignition lock (See Figure
3E-13) and
take out steering and ignition lock cylinder. 4. Remove two screws securing electrical switch to
steering and ignition lock housing and take out
switch.
Disassembly (Opel 1900 . Manta)
1. Rezmove steering wheel.
2. Unscrew split signal switch housing cover and
remove lower half. See Figure
3E-10.
3. Remove lock cylinder by pushing in lock spring of
the cylinder using a piece of wire. Cylinder must be
in the
” 1” position. See Figure 3E-14.
Figure 3E-14 Removing Lock Cylinder
Reassembly
1. On the GT reassemble electrical switch into steer-
ing and ignition
lock housing and rotate switch until:
(1) cam in lock housing recess fits into slotted hole
in rear of electrical switch, and (2) projection on
electrical switch fits into recess on lock housing.
2. On the Opel 1900
- Manta, insert lock cylinder in
the
P l* position into housing. Install lower half of
signal switch housing.
3. Reinstall steering wheel.
Figure 3E-13 Removing Ignition Lock Cylinder